Before Jack, Steele was in the frame

HEROIC Ashes batting displays in glasses are not unique to Jack Leach.

David Steele proved such a hit in his spectacles in 1975 that he was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The gritty Northamptonshire batsman was called up to make his England debut in the home series at the age of 33 against the intimidating Australian duo of Dennis

Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

Dubbed ‘the bank clerk who went to war’, Steele’s defiance – in pre-helmet days

– saw him make 365 runs in his steel-rimmed specs in six England innings.

Leach may have secured free glasses for life from Ashes series sponsors Specsavers but Steele, below, also had a sponsorship deal. A local butcher gave him a lamb chop for every run up to 50 in an innings and steaks thereafter.

By the end of an incredible summer,

Steele had 1,756 cuts of meat at his disposal.